Days of Special Interest YEAR OF GRACE 2016 Supplement to the Liturgical Year Calendar 2016 Diocese of Grand Rapids The latest version of this document is at http://www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org/documents/liturgical_year_supplement_2016.pdf Link to the 2016 Liturgical Calendar: http://www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org/documents/liturgical_year_calendar_2016_grand%20rapids.pdf The Year of our Lord 2016 has fewer quirks than the past couple years. However, you will note that the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Aug. 15) is not a day of obligation this year because it falls on a Monday. Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 Not only is this a holy day of obligation in the United States, it launches the worldwide Jubilee of Mercy announced by Pope Francis. As the Holy Father states in the Bull of Induction, This liturgical feast day recalls God s action from the very beginning of the history of mankind. After the sin of Adam and Eve, God did not wish to leave humanity alone in the throes of evil. So he turned his gaze to Mary, holy and immaculate in love (cf. Eph 1:4), choosing her to be the Mother of man s Redeemer. Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24 & 25 2015 The texts for the Vigil Mass are used at the Mass(es) celebrated earlier in the evening of Dec. 24. Later Masses on Christmas Eve can use the texts from the Mass during the Night. Masses on Christmas Day can be from the Mass at Dawn or the Mass during the Day. There is an option for choosing from one or another of the three sets of readings according to the pastoral needs of each congregation. The crèche is to be displayed outside the sanctuary. It may be blessed at the Vigil Mass with the appropriate texts from the Book of Blessings (Chapter 48). Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, January 3, 2016 Please note that the Roman Missal provides new texts for a Vigil Mass. Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Friday, January 22, 2016 The Roman Missal provides a Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life; see Lectionary nos. 887-891 Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday) Friday, March 25, 2016 Since March 25, 2016 is Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday), the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, normally assigned to this day, is transferred to Monday, April 4, 2016. The Optional Memorial of St. Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, is omitted this year. Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Sunday, May 8, 2016 In all but six dioceses in the United States, the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Roman Missal III provides a new Vigil Mass for the Ascension. When the Ascension of the Lord is celebrated on the following Sunday, the Second Reading and Gospel from the Seventh Sunday of Easter (see no. 61) may be read on the Sixth Sunday of Easter. If transferred, Thursday, May 5, is observed as an Easter Weekday. The following readings are used: Acts 18:1-8/Jn 16:16-20 (294). 1 Lit Year Supplement 2016 rev 11-19-15
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Monday, Aug. 15, 2016 Since the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary falls on a Monday this year, it is not observed as a Holyday of Obligation in the United States. Solemnity of All Saints Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 Since this holy day falls on a Tuesday this year, this is a Holy Day of Obligation. Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 The Lectionary (nos. 668 or 1011-1016) provides a wealth of readings. The Roman Missal provides three sets of orations, five Prefaces for the Dead, and a solemn blessing. Funeral Mass not permitted. Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016 This is a holy day of obligation in the USA. Even when this solemnity falls on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to participate in Mass is never abrogated since it is our country s patronal feast. As you will recall, the 1993 USCCB ruling applies only to Jan. 1 (Mary Mother of God), Aug. 15 (Assumption), and Nov. 1 (All Saints). Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Friday, Dec. 30, 2016 In 2016, since a Sunday does not occur between December 25 and January 1, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is celebrated on Friday, December 30 with only one reading before the Gospel. THE CHOICE OF THE MASS AND ITS PARTS The pastoral effectiveness of a celebration will be greatly increased if the texts of readings, the prayers, and the liturgical songs correspond as closely as possible to the needs, spiritual preparation, and culture of those taking party The priest, therefore, in planning the celebration of Mass, should have in mind the common spiritual good of the people of God, rather than his own inclinations. He should, moreover, remember that the selection of different parts is to be made in agreement with those who have some role in the celebration, including the faithful, in regard to the parts that more directly belong to each. Since, indeed, a variety of options is provided for the different parts of the Mass, it is necessary for the deacon, the lectors, the psalmist, the cantor, the commentator, and choir to be completely sure before the celebration about those texts for which each is responsible is to be used and that nothing is improvised. Harmonious planning and carrying out of the rites will be of great assistance in disposing the faithful to take part in the Eucharist (GIRM 352) 2 Lit Year Supplement 2016 rev 11-19-15
RITUAL MASSES Choice of Day for the Rite of Marriage Whenever marriage is celebrated during Mass, white vestments are worn and the wedding Mass is used. On those days when the Ritual Mass cannot be used, the Mass of the day is chosen. The nuptial blessing and where appropriate, the special final blessing is added. The liturgy of the word is extremely helpful in emphasizing the meaning of the sacrament and the obligation of marriage. When the wedding Mass may not be used, one of the readings from the Rite of Marriage (nos. 67-105) may be chosen, except from Holy Thursday to Easter and on the feast of Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, and other holy days of obligation. On the Sundays of the Christmas season and throughout the year, in Masses which are not parish Masses, the wedding Mass may be used without change. When a marriage is celebrated during Advent or Lent or other days of penance, the parish priest should advise the couple to take into consideration the special nature of these times (Rite of Marriage, no. 11) Funerals The funeral Mass is not permitted on solemnities of obligation, on Holy Thursday and the Easter Triduum, and on the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and the Easter season (Order of Christian Funerals, no. 178). The funeral liturgy outside Mass may be used on these days. Other Masses When choosing the Mass texts for Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, and Masses for the Dead, please see the chart on page four. 3 Lit Year Supplement 2016 rev 11-19-15
TABLE OF LITURGICAL DAYS ACCORDING TO THEIR ORDER OF PRECEDENCE General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar #59 I 1. Easter Triduum of the Lord=s Passion and Resurrection 2. Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension, and Pentecost Sundays of Advent, Lent, and the Easter Season Ash Wednesday Weekdays of Holy Week from Monday to Thursday inclusive Days within the Octave of Easter 3. Solemnities of the Lord, The Blessed Virgin Mary, and saints listed in the General Calendar All Souls (Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed) 4. Proper Solemnities, namely: a. Solemnity of the principal patron of the place, i.e., the city or state b. Solemnity of the dedication of a particular church and the anniversary c. Solemnity of the title of a particular church d. Solemnity of the title, or of the founder, or of the principal patron of a religious order 5. Feasts of the Lord in the General Calendar II 6. Sundays of the Christmas season and Sundays in Ordinary Time 7. Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the saints in the General Calendar 8. Proper Feasts, namely: a. Feast of the principal patron of the diocese b. Feast of the anniversary of the dedication of the cathedral c. Feast of the principal patron of a region or province, or a country, or of a wider territory d. Feast of the title, founder, or principal patron of an order or congregation and of a religious province, without prejudice to the directives in no. 4. e. Other feasts proper to an individual church f. Other feasts listed in the calendar of a diocese or of a religious order congregation 9. Weekdays of Advent from 17 December to 24 December, inclusive. Days within the Octave of Christmas. Weekdays of Lent III 10. Obligatory memorials in the General Calendar 11. Proper obligatory memorials, namely: a. Memorial of a secondary patron of the place, diocese, region, or province, country or wider territory, or of an order or congregation and of a religious province. b. Obligatory memorials listed in the calendar of a diocese, or of an order or congregation 12. Optional Memorials; but these may be celebrated even on the days listed in no. 9, in the special manner described by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and of the Liturgy of the Hours. In the same manner obligatory memorials may be celebrated as optional memorials if they happen to fall on the Lenten weekdays. 13. Weekdays of Advent up to 16 December inclusive Weekdays of the Christmas season from 2 January until the Saturday after Epiphany. Weekdays of the Easter Season from Monday after the Octave of Easter until the Saturday before Pentecost inclusive. Weekdays in Ordinary Time. 4 Lit Year Supplement 2016 rev 11-19-15
TABLE OF RUBRICS GOVERNING THE USE OF RITUAL MASSES, MASSES FOR VARIOUS NEEDS, MASSES FOR VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, AND MASSES FOR THE DEAD V1 = Ritual Masses (GIRM 372); MVNO and VM in case of serious pastoral need or advantage at the direction of the local ordinary or with his permission (GIRM 374 and 376) V2 = MVNO and VM in cases of serious need or pastoral advantage, at the discretion of the rector of the church or the priest celebrant (GIRM 376 and 376) V3 = MVNO and VM chosen by the priest celebrant in favor of the devotion of the people (GIRM 377) R1 = Funeral Mass (GIRM 380) R2 = Mass on the occasion of news of a death, final burial, or the first anniversary (GIRM 381) R3 = Daily Mass for the Dead (GIRM 355, 379, 381). When R1 and R2 are not permitted, neither is R3. (+) = permitted (-) = not permitted Holy Thursday, Easter Triduum V1 - R1 Sundays of Advent, Lent, and the Easter Season V1 - R1 Solemnities of precept V1 - R1 Solemnities not of precept, All Souls V1 - R1 + Ash Wednesday, weekdays of Holy Week V1 - R1 + Days in the Easter Octave V1 - R1 + Sundays of Christmas, and in Ordinary Time V1+, V2- R1+, R2- Feasts V1+, V2-, R1+, R2- Weekdays December 17-24 V1+, V2- R1+, R2+ Days in the Christmas Octave V1+, V2- R1+, R2+ Weekdays of Lent V1+, V2- R1+, R2+ Obligatory Memorials V1+, V2+ R1+, R2+ Weekdays of Advent to December 16 V1+, V2+ R1+, R2+ Weekdays of Christmas from January 2 V1+, V2+ R1+, R2+ Weekdays of the Easter Season V1+, V2+ R1+, R2+ Weekdays in Ordinary Time V1+, V2+, V3+ R1+, R2+, R3+ Adapted from Appendix III, Ceremonial of Bishops 8 ICEL Adapted by the Office for Worship ~ Diocese of Grand Rapids August 2015 5 Lit Year Supplement 2016 rev 11-19-15